My knowledge of the game is pretty limited (which the main question probably shows). I have seen my nephew play it and he has constructed some pretty amazing stuff, and clearly the game has legs due to its continued popularity. I have visions of my Son playing this, building some amazing stuff and becoming inspired to build a skylift to the moon in real life. But as he is five months old this is slightly premature. I have a Switch, love it dearly and notice that there has just been a version released for the system.
I expect there are a few of you on here who have played, or are playing this, and I wonder if you could tell me about your experiences from a âgrown-upâ angle. From what I can tell, it is pretty much a do what you like game, but then also recall on various podcasts people talking about battles, and missions and such. I find myself intrigued, and at ÂŁ20 it is not cheap but not crazy expensive either. I want to know a bit more about the actual game before I take the plunge and spend my pennies though.
Itâs hard to answer. Itâs a bit like Lego, really. Lots of adults like Lego. I like Lego, but not everyone. If you were confronted with a pile of Lego and nothing about that excites you, or you couldnât think of anything to do, you might not get on with Minecraft either.
I would say that Minecraftâs initial audience was primarily adult, probably, way in the early days of it.
There are a lot of mods which add or change things about the game in some significant ways, but I donât know much about that.
Also, be aware I havenât played it for a few years now probably, and I gather plenty of stuff has been added. Donât know what thatâs like.
I think if youâre the sort of person whoâll put some effort and creativity into a game, and you want something positive to play with your son, itâs hard to go wrong with Minecraft. Itâs a really great game for self-expression.
As an adult I would avoid the Switch version, and indeed the rest of the console ones, the âPocket Editionâ, and the âWindows 10â edition, and get the original Java based âPCâ edition. Out of the gate itâs basically the same game, but itâs that version that has the flexibility for playing modded versions, all different sorts of downloadable challenge maps, and for making your own such things if you want.
Core Minecraft is a fairly simple game; the Java version is also a platform on which lots of other games have been built.
Oh, did you watch the series they did of it? Project B.E.A.S.T.? Itâs well worthwhile, and has Austin for most of it because it started just before he joined the site. One of the best things on Giant Bomb still, I think.
I think this place is fine with topics finding their own path! I didnât watch the vids no, and no longer a Premium Member. I do remember them liking it a lot though. It seems to be on pretty much every other platform out there so hopefully it comes to Switch at some point.
I still play âVanillaâ Minecraft from time to time and it is really enjoyable to me. Playing with others is super important for my enjoyment, though. Iâm pretty weird though, I like digging holes, just the simply, repetitive task and the impressive result are super satisfying. Minecraft is a game that you can play in so many different ways (not even counting the mods), so itâs really hard to give a specific answer.
Here is my largest hole (basically a pyramid from ground level to bedrock) to date, btw:
Iâd say if you have a young son then itâs absolutely worth picking up. Itâs something heâll likely want to play at some point anyway, presuming that kids havenât moved on to a new craze completely in the next couple of years, and even so itâs going to be a great thing that you can play with him and have a ton of shared experiences.
Itâs worth getting into now - you can get a feel for the game and then youâll be able to guide him through it if/when you do start playing it together. I would absolutely second @ewanâs recommendation - go for the original PC edition if possible. The core version of Minecraft is a great playground to explore and be creative in, but if you play it a fair amount thereâs so much value to be added (depending on what youâre looking for) from diving into the mod scene - and itâs a lot easier to set that stuff up than you might anticipate. Plus there are tons of guides online to help with that.
Iâd also say my other main tip starting out is âdonât be afraid to look at the wikiâ - Minecraft (especially on the PC version) doesnât hold your hand a ton in terms of letting you know how to build stuff. Manually shaping your tools out in the crafting window is a great mechanic, but it can be a little confusing at first. Have fun!
Ok thanks guys, I have purchased it on the Switch. If we ever get a laptop or tower PC I will look to get that version. For now, the Switch is my only viable gaming machine (plus I think he will enjoy using it when old enough).
Theyâll never reach the full scope of the PC mods, but I think the game is deep enough that they arenât all that necessary, especially if you dig into redstone and command blocks.
Iâm 33 and I love Minecraft. The only problem for me now is that Iâve played Minecraft so much that I kind of canât, anymore. I started playing Minecraft about a year before the Microsoft buyout and since then theyâve added a bunch of new stuff
But Iâve also gone through the âdiscoveryâ phase of Minecraft. Iâve learned everything it feels like I need to know to get through the game and Iâve started new worlds, built castles and huge underground mines so many times that it kind of feels old hat, and thereâs no impetus to learn about any of the new stuff.
As a 31 year old child I can say an adult might be hard pressed to find the fun in minecraft. there is very little âstructuredâ play. but as a man child I can say iâve purchased the game a half dozen times between console releases and extra copies for Friends and family and i play it every couple of months at least.
I cant wait for my kids to start playing it, Iâll be right there with them.
Minecraft is pretty underrated as a game to just wander around in and relax in. Not a very creative person myself when it comes to building and things like that, and lacked a lot of the patience/time needed to complete large scale construction projects, but just exploring caves, mountains, the different biomes, villages, etc. was enough for me. Very fond memories of throwing on a podcast or some music and getting lost in there for a couple hours at night. Had its own excellent soundtrack as well!
Well last night I spent an hour trying to figure out how to put a roof on my shelter, whilst it rained and a sheep kept trying to come in through the open window. I did put a door on it though. The shelter, not the sheep.
Ok gang, I have tried a couple of times to get into this but have failed each time. Itâs going to sound dumb, given kids are all over this thing, but I am struggling with the controls on the Switch. Twice I have gotten to the end of the Tutorial, switched off for the night and come back the next day, or a few days later and itâs like starting from scratch and I feel totally lost.
I guess everyone else on here is using PC/other versions so it may not be relevant, but is there a particular place I should be looking for âhelpâ online to maybe give me a kick-start, or any advice you can dish out here? I do really want to get into this thing. Guess I could just wait a few years and then get the Boy to roll his eyes at me whilst he builds loads of stuff in the blink of an eye.
Iâm not a Minecraft player myself, but is there anything youâre particularly having trouble with? Thereâs no shame in not adjusting to the controls immediately, that sorta thing is totally natural.
